TAMIL
Jainism in Tamil Nadu
PKR
SAMANAMUM TAMIZHUM:
Mayilai Seeni Venkatasami; Shenbaga Pathippagam, Post Box No. 8836, Pondy Bazar, T. Nagar, Chennai-600017. Rs. 75.
AN OUTCOME of painstaking research, the book presents a historical overview of Jainism, with Tamil Nadu focus. The first of the 11 chapters briefly traces the history of the religion, while the second recounts the Jain philosophy and the next two describe the Jain way life. Two chapters are devoted to the advent and growth of Jainism in Tamil Nadu. The rivalry and clashes between the followers of Jainism and Saivism are discussed in the seventh chapter. The last four chapters speak about its decline, its present state in Tamil Nadu and the relics.
The book has eight appendices that will be of immense value for the researchers.
Tireless field worker and one who earned the commendation of eminent scholars like T.P. Meenakshisundaram and Kamil Zvelebil, Mayilai Seeni, as the author is widely known, travelled extensively in Tamil Nadu collecting material for this project, and he notes, with a palpable sense of hurt, it took 10 long years for him to get the work published as a book — that was in 1954 and it has been republished now. The publishers deserve appreciation for having made it available to the present generation.
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